The Name ‘Cane Corso’
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This is a summary on Cane Corso Italiano: the
origin, the history, the integration in socio-economic context into the
masserie of the Meridione, and the decline, recovery and recognition of the
Corso breed. It must be qualified that this summary on Cane Corso is compiled
from articles, books, and the Cane Corso Pages web site. The main sources being
“IL Cane Corso: Origini e Prospettiv del molosso italico” by Prof. F.
Casolino and Dott. S. Gandolfi, published 1996 by Mursia, “IL Cane Corso”
by Prof. G. Cheicchi and Dott. G. Gualtieri 3rd edition published
1997, “Brevi Annotazioni Sul Cane Corso, Nel Tempo, Nel Diverse Condizioni
Geografiche, Ambientali E Sociali” by Sig. Giovanni Tumminelli & Dott.
Flavio Bruno published 1994, “Testimonianze Visive E Grafiche Di Un Amico
Ritrovato: “ILCORSO”: 1536 --- e la storia continua --- 1993” by Sig.
Giovanni Tumminelli & Dott. Flavio Bruno 1994, and “IL Cane Corso”
by Dott. Flavio Bruno published 1994.
Any mistake and misrepresentation in this
compilation is mine and mine alone. The copy right of this compilation remains
with Hu Song and the Cane Corso Pages. Permission in writing is required for
reproduction of the whole or part of this compilation.
Hu Song Thursday, May 15, 2000, revised
December 01, 2001 and May 25, 2003.
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Since 16th century Italy (1,500
A.D.) the name ‘Cane Corso’ had been cited in some poems and prose, some
historical documents even described its usage in hunting and its gripping bite
The word Cane is Canis from Latin,
meaning dog. There are several hypotheses about the origin of the word “Corso”.
Corsus,
Prof. Giovanni Bonatti said, is an ancient provincial adjective which
translates as “sturdy” or “robust” in Italian. This adjective has
kept the same meaning in southern dialects – to the point that it has become a
noun: Corso. Prof. Bonatti also referred to other variants of the name
or the attributes of the breed. In the small and circumscribed region between
Lucania and Calabria, they say can’ huzz meaning robust and strong;
in upper Lucania one heard of cuorsicu, corsico, corsicano still mean robust
and strong.
In the Southern Italy, “corso” became cors
in the original idiom, which tends to drop the final vowel of the word. And in
fact Cors does mean sturdy in many dialects of the Southern
Italy.
Prof. Bonatti said that the English word coarse
stems from the celtic word cors, which is still used in Wales, Britain.
L. Gentili wrote an article in 1979 issue of
ENCI magazine. Citing L. I. Columella’s De re rustica (1 century A.D.),
he pointed out that guard dogs were called “cane da corte” or court
dogs, with “corte” indicating closed or walled-in place: thus cohors,
chors, cors.
Prof. Giuseppe Chiecchi believes that the term
“corso” derives from old Greek word “Kortos” which means fenced property or
enclosed court giving the above-mentioned cohors. And Cane Corso has the
meaning of “dog that guard the court/property”. It must be noted that
there were ancient Greek colonies in Magna Grecia of Southern Italy.
Thus cohors assumes the significance of
bodyguard - of the general and the king - and protector. And if suppose that
bodyguard and protector required presence, muscles, and courage, it becomes
obvious that Corso means to describe a sturdy guard and protection dog.
Prof. Bonatti also discovered from the 17th
century state archives of the city of Naples the fascinating name of “Dogo
di Puglia” for Cane Corso. But as a Francescan from Lucano explained some
years ago, “Dogo” might have been a linguistic refinement used by the
monks or noble owners of the Corso of the past which defended their palaces or
convents. These dogs were often imported from the masserie of Puglia due to the
active trade of agricultural products and animals between them. It is known
that the feudal holdings of the zone extended from Bari to the heel of the
peninsula.
The name of the dog was and is simply the CANE
CORSO, given the diffusion of this name in the entire south of Italy and Sicily.
And whatever the meaning of Cane Corso or
“Corso” Dog, it can be seen from ancient statues, basreliefs and mosaic works
that the Cane Corso has an astonishing resemblance with the Roman Canis Pugnax
Notes on The Name
Since the 16th century, historical
documents in Italy, including Sicily, had been using the term Cane Corso.
The name of the dog was and is simply the CANE CORSO, given the diffusion of
this name in the entire south of Italy and Sicily.
Not being easily satisfied, Prof. Bonatti
researched and discovered from the 17th century state archives of
the city of Naples the fascinating name of “Dogo di Puglia” for Cane
Corso. But as a Francescan from Lucano had explained some years ago according
to Prof. Casolino & Dott. Gandolfi, “Dogo” might have been a
linguistic refinement used by the monks or noble owners of the Corso of the
past that defended their palaces or convents. These dogs were often imported
from the masserie of Puglia due to the active trade of agricultural products
and animals between them. It is known that the feudal holdings of the zone
extended from Bari to the heel of the peninsula.
Mentioned in the book A Celebration On Rare
Breeds Volume II authored by Cathy Flamholtz, with input from Michael Sottlie
Sr., it was claimed that ‘In Sicily, the breed is known as the Branchiero
Siciliano, but on the mainland it is known as the Cane Corso. Those working to
have the breed officially recognized use the term Cane Corso’.
This is perpetuated even until today by the fabricators of ‘Cane Corso is known as Branchiero Siciliano in
Sicily’ falsehood when it is abundantly clear that Branchiero Siciliano
is a breed by itself, morphologically distinct from Corso Italiano. Besides
just claims, there has been NO evidence whatsoever from both historical
documents and iconography to substantiate such fabrication. And except only in
the US, none of the breed literature that I have come across has
indicated Branchiero Siciliano to be the equivalent term as Corso Italiano in
Sicily. In fact rather the opposite is presented.
Sig. Giovanni Tumminelli is a Sicilian dog
lover known for his studies and research on the native breeds of the island:
the Cane di Mannera, the Spino degli Iblei, the Branchiero
and the Cane Corso. During the time of breed recovery, there were still
a few of Corso Italiano in Sicily. He furnished the Corso recovery team and
SACC with historical and iconographical documentation as well as information
about the traditional uses of Corso Italiano peculiar to this region, all of
this with an ample photographic census of the subjects and their various blood
lines. The similarity of these Corsos with those of the Corso recovery team
and those found in Puglia were amazing.
Dott. Flavio Bruno
authored with Sig. Giovanni Tumminelli two SACC monographs:
1. Brevi
Annotazioni Sul Cane Corso, Nel Tempo, Nel Diverse Condizioni Geografiche,
Ambientali E Sociali.
2. Testimonianze
Visive E Grafiche Di Un Amico Ritrovato: “ILCORSO”: 1536 --- e la storia
continua --- 1993.
The first book has discussed about the
morphological features of the Cane di Mannera, the Branchiero,
and the Corso. It is clearly shown that the longer softer hair
Branchiero with parallel skull-muzzle axes and muzzle length of 40% total head
length is a different breed from the shorter, stiffer like cow-hair Corso.
The input is summarized as notes below.
The second book shown in Page 10 to 14 the
iconographical and historical evidences that as early as 16th
century that the name ‘Cane Corso’ existed in Sicily. These
include the Coat of Arms of an ancient Sicilian family of Baron Corso and the
appearance and use of the term ‘Cane Corso’ in dictionary and in proverbs of
the Sicilian dialect. The input is also summarized as notes below.
From ‘IL Cane Corso’ by Dott. Flavio
Bruno published 1994 it is found in Chapter ‘I SOGNI DI UN RAGAZZO’ (The
Dreams Of A Boy) the following statement:
<In questi incontri anche se il soggetto
principale era il cane corso si parvala, si osservavano foto e soggetti di
alter razze tipicamente meridione come il mastino abruzzese, il volpino, il
levriero meridionale, il branchiero, il mastino siciliano o “cane di
amnnera”, il “vuccerisco”, il dogo sardo, il mastino fonnese, ecc.
Si parlava di quelli incroci voluti o casuali,
nel nostro ambiente meridionale, quail il mezzo-corso, il mezzo-sangue e lo
“straviere”, ecc.>
Roughly in English text this means: <In
these gatherings even if the main subject discussed was the cane corso, there
were photos to observe and subjects on other typically southern breeds
like the mastino abruzzese, the volpino, the southern levriero, the branchiero,
the mastino sicialiano or "cane di mannera", "vuccerisco",
the dogo sardo, the mastino fonnese, etc.
There were discussions about those intentional
or accidental crossings in our southern environment, the mezzo-corso, the
mezzo-sangue and "straviere", etc.>
It is abundantly clear that here in this Dott.
Flavio Bruno’s book the Branchiero is stated as one of the typically
southern breeds other than Cane Corso.
In ‘Fattoria Ad
Indirizzo Cerealico - Zootechnico’ by Dott. Flavio Bruno published 1996,
all the drawings in this book showed Corsi as cropped ear, docked tail,
short-hair dogs in farm and village activities.
Further in ‘IL
Cane Corso – studiatto nella razza, nella storia, nella famiglia e nella
societa’ by Dott. Flavio Bruno published in parallel Italian and English
text year 2002, there is a chapter showing photos of not famous Italian breeds.
Photo of Branchiero is there with other breeds like Cane di Mannera and Cane
‘ro Vucciere.
But despite all these
evidences, even as late as in year 2001, it was mentioned by these so called
corso connoisseurs in the US that <In Dr. Flavio Bruno's book he called
the Branchiero Siciliano a variety of Cane Corso. He stated "The main
difference the Branchiero has smooth hair without undercoat the Cane Corso,
short hair with undercoat">.
In
which of the Dott. Flavio Bruno’s book that this is stated? There is no mentioned. I have not come across in Dott. Flavio
Bruno’s books mentioning that Branchiero is a variety of Cane Corso. Rather,
it is noted that Dott. Flavio Bruno mentioned the exact opposites in his books:
Branchiero and Corso are different breeds.
Could this be falsehood
fabricated to take advantage of Corso enthusiasts due to the lack of Corso
information in English?
An American Cane
breeder was a member of an American breed club delegate that visited Dott.
Flavio Bruno in Italy. Returning to the US this person made statements of
falsehood regarding Dott. Flavio Bruno’s knowledge of Sottile Sr. and his
imports from Sicily. This has led to a specific statement of denial from Dott.
Flavio Bruno.
Is
this case another example of putting words into Dott. Flavio Bruno’s mouth
taking advantage that he does not communicate in English language?
Evidences from iconography
A rampant silver Corso on a blue field is
depicted in the Coat of Arms of the ancient Sicilian family of Baron Corso
(since 1500).
In the same art museum of Capodimonte there
exists a table service of decorated porcelain plates from about 1780. It
shows a pack of Corsi, with proportions extraordinarily similar to those modern
dogs, blocking a large male boar, spurred on by the sound of the horns of the
mounted hunters.
Evidences from historiography
In the Dizionario della lingua italiana
by Nicolo Tommaseo (1802-1877) one finds: "Can corso, uomo di aspetto
ed attitudine fiera" or "Can
corso, man of proud aspect and bearing".
The Nuovo Dizionario Siciliano-Italiano
(New Sicilian-Italian Dictionary) (1838) was edited by Baron Vincenzo
Mortillaro. In it at Point V under the term "Cani", it
is stated "Cani Corsu, Can Corsico or Corso" and added "Lasserisi
jiri cum un Cani Corsu" or "throw one’s self on something with
violence".
In his <i>Mammiferi di Sicilica</i>
(1868) Mina Palumbo distinguished "Canis molossus. Common
name Cani Corsu Inglisi, dog of a sturdy build, with very large head and
the lower jaw jutting out as its characteristics." from "Canis
mastivus. Common name Cani Corsu; head heavy and short, muzzle very
large, ears hanging, coat ashen colour striped obliquely with black, not very
intelligent. Catania, Petralia, Sottana, Castelbuono, Palermo".
In E. Emma Alaimo’s Proverbi Siciliani
there is a phrase in Sicilian dialect, "A cani corsi nun ci diri’ngirri",
meaning that "don’t incite one who is already irascible".
There is another old saying from Enna, Sicily in Sicilian dialect: "Oggi
haiu vistu lu munni alla riversu ca lu liebru assicutava u cani corsu"
or "today I saw the world upside down; a hare was chasing a Cane Corso".
Prof. Danilo Mainardi of Ca’Foscari University,
and ENCI judge, Italy published an article in Corriere della Sera, a
prestigious Italian newspaper, on June 1, 1989 about use of the breed as an
aide to guards and police. He stated that Leonardo Sciascia had written about
this in his Occhio di Capra (Eye of the Goat), an interesting dictionary
of the dialect in and around Racalmuto. Sciascia was quoted saying the
following:
"Reading the word barraggieddru
I had learned that, with a decree issued on 30th November 1750, Charles III had
prohibited the use of Cane Corso by policemen to chase criminals" and
"This means that he was also a man-hunter, at least in the earlier
centuries in Sicily, this dog ….. a terrible, indomitable molossoid ….. an
animal rich in fascination and history".
From the above iconographical and historical
evidences Cane Corso is never called Branchiero Siciliano in Sicily as
presented by some so-claimed experts in the US even when they quoted SACC
monograph (item #1 above). Why would it be that there is a need of fabrication?
Is it in order to rationalize and legitimise those dogs imported by Sottile Sr.
and their descendants?
Cane di Mannera, Branchiero & Cane Corso
The SACC monograph Brevi Annotazioni Sul
Cane Corso, Nel Tempo, Nel Diverse Condizioni Geografiche, Ambientali E Sociali
by Dott. Flavio Brunio & Sig. Giovanni Tumminelli did presented on Italian
molossers. There are 3 molosser breeds known to the Italian in Sicily: the
Branchiero Siciliano, the Cane di Mannera and the Cane Corso Italiano.
The Molosser World web site provided some
information on Cane di Mannera. And Cane Corso Pages web site provided
in its Italian Molossers Page a picture of Cane di Mannera and some
related information.
Some people believe that it descends form the
Mastino Abruzzese, and developed to an independent breed on the lands of
Sicily. They are very impressive dogs and typical molossoid type with massive
head and bone structure. There still is a small number of original Cane Di
Manerra, and first step has been taken to save the breed. (Italian Molossers Page, the Cane Corso Pages web site)
It is mentioned that Cane di Mannera has
a imposing head, broad skull, and short, wide and deep muzzle. The colour of
the eyes is honey in fawn subjects and dark in the black subjects. It has a
powerful neck, wide and deep chest, and solid, powerful body of width measuring
20% of the height to the withers. Its hindquarters are wide and strong with
full posterior. Height of rural subjects is generally from 57cm to 68cm but if
raised adequately can developed to height of 65cm to 75cm. In spite of the size
and weight it is known to be agile and able to perform optimal jumps every time
when is necessary.
The coat colour of Cane di Manerra is
different intensity of fawn - from blonde to mahogany, and grey and black.
There are white spots down from the throat to the chest and until the feet.
There is also white spot on the tip of the tail. The much wavy and often curly
coat is a typical characteristic of Cane di Mannerra.
Pictures of the Branchiero can be
observed in the Italian Molossers Page of Cane Corso Pages web site as well as
the Branchiero Page of Molosser World web site. These pictures are from Mr.
Francesco Ferrante with help from Mr. Angelo Visentin. There are also
information about the breed provided in these web sites.
The Branchiero in Sicily is a medium to
large size molosser like Corso Italiano. Its name means dog in pack because of
its past in working with cattle. It was held in high regard for the courage and
the skill with which it faced the cattle. It is also a cart-dog, following the
cart, protecting the cart-driver, transported goods, and the horse/mule.
The Branchiero has similar height and
body length as Corso Italiano. It has a powerful head with a broad skull. Its
muzzle is approximately 40% of the total length of the head. This clearly
differs from Corso Italiano whose muzzle is approximately 1/3 the total of the
head. The Branchiero has parallel axes of skull and muzzle. This differs
from Corso Italiano who has skull and muzzle axes slightly convergent. The coat
colour of Branchiero is black, brindle and fawn. It has smooth hair
without undercoat that clearly differs from Corso Italiano who has short hair
like cow hair and with undercoat.
Would the dogs imported by Sottile Sr. the
longer softer hair Branchiero as they were originally called, registered
and advertised as? Or are they the shorter, stiffer cow-like hair Corso
that they were later renamed?
When one compares the American Cane Corso
breed standard as developed by Sottile Sr. and in use until very recently, wouldn’t
one finds that it contains similar features to Branchiero: muzzle approximately
40% of the total length of the head and parallel axes of skull and muzzle?
But the fact is that Branchiero Siciliano
is entirely a different breed in Sicily, probably even more rare than Corso.
Corso Italiano has never been called Branchiero Siciliano in Sicily as
stated by Sottile Sr. to author Cathy Flamholtz.
Could Sottile Sr. being confused or mistaken?
But when one of the so called
corso-connoisseurs in the US quoting as his reference the book Brevi
Annotazioni Sul Cane Corso, Nel Tempo, Nel Diverse Condizioni Geografiche,
Ambientali E Sociali by Dott. Flavio Bruno and Sig. Giovanni Tumminelli as
reference and stating at the same time that in Sicily, Cane Corso is
called Branchiero Siciliano - wouldn’t this be outright fabrication of
falsehood?
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